Envelope or bag with self-contained opener



March 16, 1965 A. H. NEUMAN ENVELOPE OR BAG WITH SELF-CONTAINED OPENER Filed Feb. l, 1965 Alfred H Neuman INVENTOR.

www 19mm United States Patent Office 3,173,5@3 Patented Mar. 16, 1965 3,173,603 ENVELOPE R BAG WITH SELF-CONT AINEI) OPENER Alfred H. Neuman, Rte. l-B, Columbia Falls, Mont. Filed Feb. 1, 1963, Ser. No. 255,574 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-66) The present invention relates, generally classified, to closure means for sheet material containers having opposed complemental walls and wherein a limited marginal portion of the container is capable of being detached in a manner which permits access to be had to the containers contents, and has reference, more particularly, to a builtin opener which is sui-tably adapted for incorporation in envelopes, bags, sacks and the like.

Stated more specifically, the invention pertains to envelopes, bags and sacks which are customarily made from paper and equivalent sheet-type plastic materials and has to do with readily closable and openable envelopes of varying types which as a general rule are used for mailing letters, cards, magazines and similar mailable articles.

Briefly, the concept pertains to an envelope (bag or sack) having a sealed or equivalently closed marginal portion which is designed and constructed so that it provides a multiple-ply strip member susceptible of being readily caught hold of and reliably torn off in a manner to expose the envelopes contents for withdrawable use and wherein the receptacle portion remains intact and consequently undamaged during the strip-detaching and opening step.

Several embodiments of the invention are herein revealed. Each of these, generically speaking, is characterized by two opposed walls marginal edge portions of which are appropriately fastened for mailing or other handling needs. In each instance a generally straight tearline or the like is provided. This, in turn, defines and provides a bodily detachable strip-like portion which, when caught hold of and ripped off opens the space and permits the intact contents (mail, articles of food, commodities, merchandise and goods) to be removed.

In carrying out the invention it is desirable to employ a tear-line. This line is characterized by small closely related perforations or, alternatively, severable weakened portions. The wall portions defining the detachable strip, are located outwardly of the scored line and are sealed or otherwise joined together so that the envelopes contents are prevented from slipping beyond the tear-line.

As will be more clearly apparent from the views of the drawing one embodiment is an envelope. The other embodiments are envelopes of a different sort, for eX- ample, cellophane and equivalent plastic grocery store commodity sacks and bags.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view observing the rear side of an envelope embodying the improved self-contained opener;

FIGURE 2 is a View on an enlarged scale showing the front and back Walls and the specially constructed liaps and the manner in which they appear with the sheet material blank spread out and in readiness to be transformed into the complete envelope;

FIGURE 3 is an exaggerated detail sectional View taken on the plane of the section line 3 3 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the opener-equipped end portion of a cellophane or an equivalent plastic bag or sack (one which is used for vendible commodities and merchandise and goods, generally speaking) wherein an embodiment of the inventive concept ditferent from that illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 is shown; and

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, that is in fragment-ary perspective form and wherein the openerequipped end portion is one wherein a seal is a part of of the opener as will be hereinafter pointed out with greater particularity.

As is doubtless evident from the instant disclosure the expression envelope is being used advisedly in that the inventive concept pertains to merchandising bags and sacks particularly those wherein opposed front and back or equivalent walls have cooperating edge portions fastened together and provided inwardly of and parallel to the fastening means with a scoreline, tear-line or a pulltype opener not including currently objectionable pulltabs and cord openers.

Reference is had first to FIGURES l to 3, inclusive, and more particularly to FIGURE 2 wherein it will be evident that the body portion of the envelope is defined by a front rectangular wall 8 the upper lengthwise portion of which is provided with a conventional-type closing Hap 10 foldable on the line 12 and having its interior lip coated with adhesive material 14. The panel-like rear or back wall 16 has its upper edge 18 in line with the foldline l2 and its lengthwise lower edge 20 in line with the bottom fold-line 22 which delineates the inward lengthwise edge of a gummed bottom fiap 24 which has an attachable adhesive coated surface 26. There is a non-coated narrow strip-like surface 28 and parallel thereto and extending across the wall a severable score-line 30 is provided. This feature is also referred to ast a tear-line and in the preferred embodiment thereof it is rnade up of a row of closely `spaced small holes or openings (apertures) 32 which register with similiar apertures or openings 34 defining the complemental tear-line 36 provided on the back wall 16 inwardly of the marginal edge 20. The tear-line 36 and edge 20 define a narrow attaching band having a gummed surface 38 which aligns with and is attachable to the non-adhesive surface 28.

In practice thet specially constructed back w-all 16 iS swung from left to right on the marginal fold-line 40 thus bringing the two walls 8 and 16 together in overlapping registering relationship. The gummed end flap 42 is folded in on the line 44 and over the adjacent edge portion of the wall 16 and to satisfactorily accomplish this it will be noticed that the end portion 46 terminates adjacent to but not directly in line with the end portion of the tear-line made up of the component portions 30 and 36. The fact that the surface 38 is fastened to the surface 28 defines a narrow band-like detachable strip member which in effect is the built-in opener. In the embodiment illustrated the opener instead of being two-plies, as is customary, is composed of three plies for the reason that the gummed flap 24 has to be folded up and adhered to the cooperating surface of the exterior bottom edge portion of thhe wall 16 as is brought out in FIGS. l and 3, particularly FIG. 3. It follows that the opener means here comprises a three-ply detachable strip member which is normally retained in place by the rows of registering apertures 32 and 34 defining the combined tear-line 30 and 36. The third-ply (the gummed flap 24) ensures the provision of a sturdy and reliable easy-to-rip opener strip. It will be further noted that an opener strip of the construction shown is such that the mail 0r other contents of the envelope cannot slip out of the confines of the intended receptacle portion and lodge in between the sealed plies comprising the triple-ply tearstrip.

ln FIG. 4 the container comprises a cellophane or an equivalent bag 0r sack which is denoted generally by the numeral 48. Here 4again the opposed Walls which may be designated as front and -back walls are denotedy at 50 and 52. The terminal wallportions which are overlapped and denoted lgenerally at 52 are in this instance joined by way of the folds of thecap-like label or closure 54. This. comprises.` a cardboard or anV equivalent rectangular label which is bent upon itself between its ends as at 56 and which has its half-portions 58 overlapping the lips which goto make up the mouth ofthe bag', these being secured in place. by .staples or equivalent fasteners 60- The portions, that is the marginal edge portions which go to make up theV mouth in conjunction k.Withthe stapl'ed cap provide in this instance thev detachable o1'A readily removabley tear-strip and to permitl the tearing step to be accomplishedthere is a tear-line, at 62 made up of a straight row of closely spaced small or iine apertures or holes 64. This tear-line 60 is along the edges 64 thus providing the bag witha novelly intact receptacle. portion with` a. discharge mouth at` one end which mouth is opened by detaching the. tear-strip along the'severable tear-line 62.

The same general built-in opener idea prevails inthe modiication depicted in FIG. 5 wherein the numeral66 designates a plastic (cellophane or the like) commodity bag or Sack having opposed walls 68 and 70 Landpro- 74 will obviously. make the. bag easy to open-1 and will.

at the same timeretain the air-tight.featurepreventing leakage of the contents from the bag and preventing dust.

or dirt fromV getting intothe.receptacle'portion .of theI bag; It is submitted that any feasible device that makes plastic bagsrpractical for satisfactory lpackaging*.andfeasier nto open constitutes aworthy contribution tothe iield ofin-1 vention'herein under advisement. y

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention.. Further, since numerous modiiicationsand changes will readily 'occur to`those` skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the. exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the. scope of theinvention as claimed. V

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A container of the Vclass described comprising a pair of opposed complemental sheetsiproviding connectible walls and defining a receptacle portion,`and opener means embodied in at least one marginal portion of said container, said opener means being normally intact but manually tearable and comprising a multi-ply severable Y 4 j l elongated strip portion which can be bodily torn away and then detached and whollyremovedythe portions of said wallsdefining said strip portion and which are located outwardly of the tear-line being fastened together from end-to-end in a ymanner to prevent any of the containers'fcontents. from, entering and lodging.4 itself between said wall strip-forming portions.

.2.` A container comprising .opposed frontV and back Walls havingcorresponding terminal end .portions thereof contacting and overlapping eachother but providing an openable and closable mouth which is capable of being used-1in 'filling' the containerV spacel andr Isubsequently removing the contents ofthe container space therefrom by way ofthe mouth, an elongated U-shaped .labelicom mensur-ate'in length with-the length of said mouth and constituting a closureand foldedeupon itself between its endsand having its half-.portions overlapping the coactingA mouth-forming wall'portions and. being secured toeach other, and rows of registering but'longitudinally spacedfperforationsextending across said mouth portion and proximalto coacting lengthwise edge .portions of the folds of said label, said label,.the intervening wall portions and the coacting perforations .cooperating in.. defining a bodily detachable openery strip, whereby to yfacilitate opening said mouth.

3. A plastic bag for packaging and-retailing commodities comprising opposed front and backwalls'having'their cooperating marginal edges joined and defining fluid-tight,

air-tight bag, said bag beingfopenableat one end and'having terminal lip portions of the openable end superimposed upon each other and lheat-sealed, said-heat sealedflip portions combining with each. othery in providing. a normally, sealed bag closure, said closure.having,a.. row of perforations extending from 4one transversey endfto rthe otherA transverse end, Vsaid. row of -perforations Vbeing spaced inwardly from and-being .parallel with thesfree outer lengthwiseedges of the. heat-sealed lips, and .being parallelwith, proximal to but spaced. slightly` from the innermost sealed'portions ofthe lips, wherebyto provide a-two-plytear stripcapable of being detached and 'bodily removed .While permitting minimal` but still intact portions of the seal to remain ternporarilyvclosed.J

References Ctedlby .the-Examiner i FRANKLIN T, GARRETVI, Primary Examiner. 

3. A PLASTIC BAG FOR PACKAGING AND RETAILING COMMODITIES COMPRISING OPPOSED FRONT AND BACK WALLS HAVING THEIR COOPERATING MARGINAL EDGES JOINED AND DEFINING FLUID-TIGHT, AIR-TIGHT BAG, SAID BAG BEING OPENABLE AT ONE END AND HAVING TERMINAL LIP PORTIONS OF THE OPENABLE END SUPERIMPOSED UPON EACH OTHER AND HEAT-SEALED, SAID HEAT SEALED LIP PORTIONS COMBINING WITH EACH OTHER IN PROVIDING A NORMALLY SEALED BAG CLOSURE, SAID CLOSURE HAVING A ROW OF PERFORATIONS EXTENDING FROM ONE TRANSVERSE END TO THE OTHER TRANSVERSE END, SAID ROW OF PERFORATIONS BEING SPACED INWARDLY FROM AND BEING PARALLEL WITH THE FREE OUTER LENGTHWISE EDGES OF THE HEAT-DEALED LIPS, AND BEING PARALLEL WITH, PROXIMAL TO BUT SPACED SLIGHTLY FROM THE INNERMOST SEALED PORTIONS OF THE LIPS, WHEREBY TO PROVIDE A TWO-PLY TEAR STRIP CAPABLE OF BEING DETACHED AND BODILY REMOVED WHILE PERMITTING MINIMAL BUT STILL INTACT PORTIONS OF THE SEAL TO REMAIN TEMPORARILY CLOSED. 